The Western Word

Welcome to the soon to be new home of The Western Word.  We’re working on getting this site up and running.  Please feel free to visit the original Western Word at:

http://takeitontherun.blogspot.com/

Regards,

Jack

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Sadness filled The Western Word’s (TWW) heart on Monday when the story broke about the shootings on the campus of Virginia Tech University. I watched many of the news reports from CNN, FOX and MSNBC all day long on Monday and part of Tuesday.

My only thoughts were, “Why?” I decided not to blog about this incident until now.

My heart breaks for these students, their families, and the leaders of Virginia Tech.

The news organizations across the world jumped on this story and reported. Many of their initial reports proved to be false or inaccurate, but that is normal because competition is the name of the game in the News world. Experts were called in the give their thoughts. Commentators gave their opinions. Every news organization had people on the ground reporting. Some reporters were very pointed with their questions and very unprofessional in addressing the leaders of the school and law enforcement personnel during the initial press conference. They seemed to fail to realize that the people they were questioning were numb and were just starting the piece together the horrific events.

Anti-Gun as well as Pro-Gun groups made comments defending their beliefs.

TWW hopes that everyone steps back and takes a deep breath. Let the professionals do their investigations, gather the facts, and issue a report.

On the news wires today, at least 10 schools across the country had copycat threats, including Great Falls High School where a note was left in the girl’s bathroom that said, “the shooting would start at Great Falls High at 12:30 and it would be worse than Virginia Tech,” That’s shameful. You can’t stop stupid people from doing this, but you can try to catch them and give them very severe punishment. I hope they do.

God bless the students, their families, the faculty and all those affected. You are in our prayers.

Here is (non-binding) H. Con. Res. 63 from the U.S. House of Representatives:

(1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and
(2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.

The U.S. House is spending a week debating a non-binding resolution. Now, Senate majority leader Harry Reid has dropped the Warner-Levin proposal and will use the House language.

Since this is a non-binding resolution (meaning it does not mean anything) maybe they should just send a letter to the President signed by all the members who support it? Then each member could issue a press release saying they signed the letter. It would save time and money. They could move on to other things.

Ahh, but there are politics involved so we need a week to grandstand and build up to a crescendo.

Does what goes on in Washington have an effect on our troops? I think so. I served in the military for several years and listened to what the folks in Washington were saying and doing about the military. One time, my Congressman voted himself a pay raise and voted against some additional funding for the military. I proceeded to write him a letter (he never answered it) and told him that he lost my vote.

Sure, it’s a mess in Iraq. There have been mistakes made. I think we give this a chance and if it’s not better by the end of the year, we start pulling out. But, what does it show the world when Congress wastes time on something that means nothing?

Resolutions like this one gives our enemies hope.

More posts coming soon so visit often.

One thing I would like to do before departing this great earth is to spend a night or a few hours being a DJ. Anyway, if, just if, I were asked to spin a few classic rock hits, here would be my *six-pack:

1. Roll Me Away (Bob Seger) 1982
Took a look down a westbound road, right away made my choice..headed out to my big two-wheeler, I was tired of my own voice. Took a bead on the northern plains and just rolled that power on…

2. Back on the Road Again (REO Speedwagon) 1979
Please don’t misunderstand me, I hate to see you cry, But I think that it might look better if I told you now goodbye…

3. Never Been Any Reason (Head East) 1975
Did you see any action? Did you make any friends? Would you like some affection before I leave again?

4. Ain’t That A Shame (Cheap Trick) 1978
“You made me cry when you said good-bye. Ain’t that a shame…my tears fall like rain”

5. Movin’ On (Missouri) 1974
“…and that road goes on and on into the sunset and my destiny is bound to move me on.”

6. Dreams (Van Halen) 1986
…We’ll get higher and higher Straight up we’ll climb. We’ll get higher and higher…Leave it all behind…So baby dry your eyes…Save all the tears you’ve cried…Oh, that’s what dreams are made of…’Cause we belong in a world that must be strong…Oh, that’s what dreams are made of…

*One note about my six pack – I have seen (in person) all these groups in concert at least once.